Reveal: How Magic: The Gathering's Avatar Expansion Brings Back Two Popular Tribal Gameplay Features
MTG enthusiasts frequently embrace tribal tactics — what player hasn't constructed a goblin strategy at some point? — while this forthcoming ATLA Universes Beyond release revives two well-known mechanics which align perfectly with the setting.
Returning Tribe-Supporting Abilities
One first mechanic, named "Allies," first introduced with the Zendikar which gives bonuses whenever additional permanents with this type come onto play.
Alternatively, "Shrine" is another enchantment type that first appeared with Champions of Kamigawa. While not creature-based tribe, Shrines also gain power as you owns more Shrines in play.
A Comeback of the Ally Mechanic
Although Shrine cards have appeared occasionally in recent releases, Allies subtype was much rarer — until this ends with ATLA, where the feature gets central.
The protagonist Aang has to recruit a lot of companions during the journey to restore balance across the four nations, so it's no better way to represent this in a Magic set.
Exclusive Cards Showcase
Following its first card reveal, here is previews of an Ally and a Shrines card in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender release.
Teo: A Beloved Figure
This character stands as one popular supporting figure from ATLA, a boy from Earth Kingdom that lived in the Northern Air Temple following his home was ruined in a disaster, which rendered him unable to walk.
Due to his father's expertise with engineering, he is able to soar in the air using a flying device, and challenges Aang in a flying contest.
This card Teo, Spirited Glider reproduces his fondness of flying along with his tribe's reliance of gliders by allowing the player draw and discard whenever you attack using a flying unit, while also strengthening your creatures with +1/+1 counters in the process.
Northern Air Temple: A Strong Shrine
Speaking of Teo's home, it appears in a card named The Northern Air Temple, which drains an opponent's life when coming into the battlefield, depending on the number of Shrines you have.
It furthermore removes one more point whenever a Shrine enters the battlefield.
This looks like a powerful addition, given its cheap mana cost plus valuable enter the battlefield effect.
One major drawback of Shrine strategies in formats besides Commander is that these cards are typically Legendary, however this card is effective in combination alongside another Shrine, which drains all opponents at the beginning of your turn.
The Welcome Collaboration
At a time while Universes Beyond sets have been garnering a lot of criticism from the community, an iconic franchise such as Avatar can be precisely just what Magic: The Gathering requires.
Preview period is already here, with all cards will be launched on Nov. 21.